Feeding, cutting, and stacking strip material



Feb. 5, 1957 'A1 wHARToN ETAL 2,780,288

FEEDING, CUTTING, AND STACKING STRIP MATERIAL Filed sept. 1, 1955 y vsheets-sheet 1 INVENTORS. ARNISTEAD WHARTON RICHARD R. DEVER amai/5&4,

ATTRNEY Feb. 5, 1957 A. WHARTON x-:TAL l2,780,288

FEEDING, CUTTING, AND STACKING STRIP MATERIAL INVENTORS. ARMISTEADWHARTON RICHARD R. DEVER JWM; im

ATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1957 A. wHARToN ETAL 2,780,288

FEEDING, CUTTING, AND sIAcKING STRIP MATERIAL Filed sept.y 1, 1955 7shee'ts-sheet 3 ATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1957 A. wHARToN ET AL 2,780,288

FEEDING, CUTTING, AND STACKING STRIP MATERIAL Filed Sept. l, 1955 '7Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS. ARmsTl-:AD wHARToN RICHARD R. DEvER ATTORNEYFeb. 5, 1957 A. WHARTON ETAL l2,780,288

FEEDING, CUTTING, AND STACKING STRIP MATERiAL- Filed Sept. l, 1955 7Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 5

INVENTORS.

AHMISTEAD WHARTON RlCHARD R. DEVER ATTORNEY' Feb. 5, 1957 A. WHARTONETAL FEEDING, CUTTING, AND STACKING STRIP MATERIAL Filed Sept. l, 1955'7 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEN TORS ARMISTEAD WHARTON RICHARD R. DEVERATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1957 A. WHARTON ETAL FEEDING, CUTTING, AND STACKINGSTRIP MATERIAL Filed sept.' 1, 1955 7 Shets-Sheet 7 E? E A sa LCED lo;

9| \92 o gull/luf ao 96 FIG. IO

v INVENTORS. l I ARMISTEAD wHARToN RICHARD R. DEVER ATTORNEY UnitedStates PateftO FEEDING, CUT'IIN G, AND "S'IlACKlNGSTLRIP MATERIAL'Armistead AWharton and Richard R. I"Dever, f Rochester, `.'"Y.,assignors to General'lD'ynamics Corporatlom-'a .corporation .oflDelawareApplication September- 1, .1955, SerialNo 532,072

15 Claims. (CL1641-49) The present invention relates to mterilfhaiidlingz`:devicesyand more particularly -to a deviceV for feeding," clitting,and stacking strip-material. y Y

YCertain types of business and `accounting"machinery mayV employelectrically operated and controlled'ttypewriters, adding machines,paper'punches,l orthelilc'effor periodically recording intelligence on aIstripioflilexihle material, sucht as paper. In someapplications,theintelligence is-assembled in a uniform anddrep'etitivefpattern andthe strip is cut into uniformtickets'-coiitaiiingitl'ie respective patterns of intelligence for`successive"opera` tions-1ct vthe machine. For example, it hasbeenproposd tolautomatically record the `pertinentinformationvfpertaining to `each `long distancetelephoneccall;such'asftle identities of the lcalled andcalling lines,ythe?fd'ateeaiid timefof @extending the i call, --and fthe durationofyth'e call: Such information may-be assembled and recorded in-janumberof printed lines on a 'strip of paperbein'g" ed through' therecording machine,l and 'after'fthel-a'ssem'blalge of fthe informationfor each-call, it isdesiredfto c'tftli strip.v Vthus lrecorded intoVaseries ofI *so-'called fitoll'tickts each containingthe assembled andrecorded information fora respective long distance'call.

It-V is an object of the` presentiinvention to .provid'e' animprovedmechanism for handling flexible s'tiipt recording material asitl isidischarged :from a` recording machine su'ch' as-an electrictypewriter, paperpunehporthe like.

Another object `of .the inventionis'to-provide I"annimprovedmaterialfhandling mechanism which willi-:receive astrip of flexiblematerial, cut a.portionxontieketffhl the strip, 1 and` feed the cutportionfinto `asuitable receiver all ,in ansimple .and .automatic'manner under .coiltrolf of a single operating signal.

Yet Aanother objectfof the invention is torproviderian improved nnaterial'y handling i mechanism for #receiving t strip offlexiblenrecording `material from-a recordingm`a chine and Yfor cuttingatportion-iof said strip-and :feeding such portion. into a-suitablereceiver underfcont-rol-ofl -a single v,operating signal as Vreceived`from: the 'i :recordingmachine. l

Still, another object ofthe :invention is 4=to provide an improved`material handling .mechanism for 'feeding and cutting` a strip -offlexible material into a .plurality `of ticketportions, and for feedingeach portion l`asc1'l'tvint`0 astacking hopper, and further having asimplified niechaf nism for. indicating the feeding ofa'suiicientnamount of strip material to be cut into a ticket 'portion`as fsu'ch strip material may he fed from a Arecording'.machine.

A further object fof the invention` is to povidematerial handlingmechanism for" feeding ticket v.p ortionsJas they are successively cutfrom -a flexiblestrip, for stacking such ticket portions in a suitablehopper 4inltinievl relation to .the cutting'of each ticketportionian'dvin a :uniform Vand neatmannerwithottjamming, f f

"Frtherobjects'and theatteiiding advantages offtheA invention will beapparent with'reference'ftofthe.followi ing specification and drawingsin'which i *Fig 1 is a perspective elevtion'o'f an ledtricit'ypewfeadapted'forlu'se 'with the material handling mechanismfitlieiiveiitionlas used for cutting the strip of printed informationlinto cut 'tickets and stacking thecut tickets 'into asiiit'ablereceptacle;

"'FigZ'is atop plan View of the ticket cutting and stacking appara'ts;

Pig. `3` is a side section taken in the direction of kthe airowsfon' theline 3`3 of Fig. 2; v ""'Fig.'"14 is a perspective view to show theunderside'of the' ltti'iigand'feedingportion of the mechanism;

,"'FigfSs'iisfa' side' s'ectio'ntake'n on the line 5 5 inthe direction"of the "arrowsas shown in Fig. 2 ofthe/drawmgs; y Y ""Iigsf' 4iid 7` refragmentary detailed' sectional ,views t""`sho'w`,l"e""tic"ket"s'en'sing` functions of the ticket feed frletion'rnefnlehismghd A `"Eigis'. 5'8"-f11 are fragmentary `detailedelevationsofthe ticket c tting' blade `and the :associated "electricswitch mechanism fo' ir'iterlocking the operation vof the 4ticketstacking :mechanism -to be in timed` relation `with theoperat'ionoftl'e' ticket cutting mechanism. Y

u rring'to'Fig'ure l'of the drawings, a portionpf an ee'ctricftypewriterv is `generally shown perspective elevation fat t10.'Ille ticket cutting, feeding-and stackiii"g`"ri1e`c isihyisfgeneallyshowninperspective elevau "be Vmounted`t the .rearpf the electrictypewriter* 10 ina position 'tQr'eceiVe atstrip v 13; of ,cxjilileiriateiial "asit is"fe"d through the "electric, typewriter. The"toll of endless' ile/sible strip material, such .as paper,

ispo'sitioned. `behind fand Ybeneath the typewriter 10,(110t t shown),"`nd' the paper'strip is'fedlup through'the :typeont "centrer circuit.

with'itsfse on an electric writer'rollerlZ in a mannerfautomaticallycontrolledfby the operation 'of'the electric typewriter, as 'should `bere `y`nd`ersto`od. Foi-'ilpurposes of thepresentr speciiication, the'invention will ,be described in connection l typewriter .of theautomatic remotely controlled type such .as available :un-derthe tradeiinie of Flexowriter and which is adapted to impress tlre'desired'characters in a desired Ypattern of `lines entiiel'y under lthe controlof electric signals asxreceived fr'oin 'af'reriiotelypositionedtypewriter control or readr In suchan arrangement, thetypew'ri'terf'fee'd rolle'i- "12 iselec'trically 4operatedundergontiol"of gnals` from the Iremote read-out control circuit and fu tionstoadvance thepaperfstrip 13 throughlthe ticket cutterjan'dstacker'mechanism of "the"inventi`on as generally shown vat `11.

fYPhe ticketV cutter yand stacker mechanism `11, 'aslapf pledjto'th'eelectrically controlled typewriter 10, has been specifically' developedYfor use ,in` a ,so-called, automatic tol etiiigQsystem f or'dial'telephonenetworks .wherein it is eiqziectecl that :toll calls "willibedialed by the teleton; Serial "No 536,573,v led phcneisubscriber., Forexample, a typical automaticftoll ticketing I system w' h lwhich thisVinvention lmay be ,used is showna'iidtles'c'iibed inthe copendingpatentapplica- September 26, 1955,-in

the "naines of `Morris and `Clemerit, and assigned tothe same assigneeas the present invention. Briefly stated,v it is`d"e`sire^d`to print anumber of lines of information-pertainingr t'oa-completed telephone tollcallon the vpaperl a ."Soclled" o'll` ticket containing lsuch linesofkprinted y stack schtickets in a suitable container. Y

l.Still referring tofFigure l Aof. the drawings, a ticketpo'rtionrl''l4shown to have .been just cut from .thefendless stripflSand'in theprocess of being fed-onto the oppositely f l. disposedtgluide rails 16and 17 of theticket receiving and,

' stacking hopper 18. Means such as a pusher or stacking Therefore,apluralityof toll tickets fwill.

bar 19 is arranged to be moved downwardly to engage the cut ticket afterit has been positioned on the oppositely disposed guide rails 16 and 17,and to ex such cut ticket (of flexible material) so as to force the cutticket 15 between and beyond the guide rails 16 and 17 to be trapped inthe lower receptacle of the hopper 18. According to the invention, it isdesirable to time the operation of the stacking bar 19 to coincide withthe arrival of the cut ticket 15 on the oppositely disposed guide rails16 and 17, and a detailed description of the arrangement for producingsuch timed operation will be later described.

Referring to Figs. 2-5 of the drawings for a more detailed understandingof the material handling mechanism of the invention, the ticket cuttingand feeding mechanisms are contained within a suitable framework 20which may be suitably shaped from sheet metal, for example, to conformto the shape of the electric typewriter 10, while the ticket stackingmechanism and the cut ticket receiving bin are contained within thesheet metal framework, generally shown at 21. Referring first to theticket cutting and cut ticket feeding mechanism as contained within thesheet metal framework 20, it is desired to point out that the paperstrip 13 from the paper storage roll 22 is intermittently fed by thetypewriter feed platen roll 12 as shown most specifically in Figs. 1 and3 of the drawings. The paper strip 13 passes through the strip guideway14 (see Figs. l and 3) onto the upper surface 22 of the sheet metalhousing 20 and underneath a cross-member guide 23 to pass between thelongitudinal guide member side rails 24 and 25. A guillotine cutterblade 26 is slideably journaled between the guide rails 27 and 28 to bemovable upward towards the paper strip 13 in a path transverse to themovement of the paper strip after it has passed beneath the guide bar23. The cutting blade 26 is provided with a pair of operating pins 29and 30 extending at right angles therefrom and loosely connected at 31and 32, respectively, to the crosspiece 33 of the armature yoke 34 of anelectromagnet, generally indicated at 35, having the armature 36. Thecoil spring 38 normally maintains the electromagnet armature 36 in theposition shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings with the cutter blade26 withdrawn from the path of movement of the paper strip 13. Figs. 3and 9 of the drawings show the cutter blade 26 and the electromagnetarmature 36 in the operated position with the cutter 26 cut through thepaper strip 13 and a cut ticket 15 in the process of being fed into theticket stacking bin 18. The loosely journaled pivotal connection of thecutter operating pins 29 and 30 with the yoke crosspiece 33 enables thestraight line movement of the cutter blade 26 to provide a desiredshearing, or guillotine action, and produces a clean cut cross the paperstrip. The operation of the armature 36 of the cutter magnet is obtainedwhenever the cutter magnet coil 37 is energized and a suitableelectrical signal for energizing such magnet coil is obtained from theelectric typewriter 10 or its control circuit (not shown) whenever therequisite number of lines, or the required length of paper stripconstituting a desired ticket to be cut, have been fed past thetransverse position of the cutter blade 26. The exact circuitarrangements for energizing the magnet coil 37 do not form a part of thepresent invention and are not being described in detail herein althoughreference may be made' to the copending patent application, Serial No.536,573, tiled September 26, 1955, in the name of Morris and Clement,and assigned to the same assignee as the present application, for adescription of a typicalcircuit suitable for use in this connection.

The paper strip as fed by the electric typewriter platen rol1r12 to passbeneath the crossbar guide 23 and between the longitudinal guide rails24 and 25, passes over the transverse position of the cutter blade 26when the blade is in the normal resting position and beneath thetransparent top guide member 40 to a position beneath a pressure roller41 in contact with a continuously drivenfric tion type of ejector roller42. The continuously driven friction roller 42 is rotated in a clockwisedirection as viewed in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, and tends tofeed the paper strip towards the receiving hopper 18. However, until theportion of the paper strip engaged with the feed roller 42 is severed bythe operation of the cutter blade 26 from the remainder of the paperstrip 13, the advancing of such cut portion of the paper strip into thereceiving bin 18 is prevented due to the fact that the typewriter platenroll 12 is being rotated only intermittently and grips the paper strip13 with greater frictional force than the frictional engagement of thefriction drive roll 42 with the portion of the paper strip contactingits surface. The pressure roll 41 may be adjusted to vary the frictionalcontact of that portion of the paper strip that is gripped between thepressure roller 41 and the friction drive roller 42 so as to adjust suchfrictional grip to be less than the frictional grip between the paperstrip 13 and the electric typewriter platen roll 12. As soon as thecutter blade 26 has been moved into cutting position to sever a ticketportion, such as shown at 15 in Figure 3 of the drawings, the frictionaldrive roll 42 advances such cut ticket portion into the receiving bin18, as will be later described in more detail.

The frictional drive roller 42 is fixed to a shaft 43, rotatablyjournaled on a U-shaped frame member 44, pivotally mounted at 45 and 46to a suitable bracket 47 fastened to the sheet metal frame 20. Anelectric motor, generally shown at 48, is also secured to the sheetmetal framework 20 and is connected by spur gears 49, 51 and 52 toprovide for the rotation of the shaft 43 and the friction drive roller42. The gears 51 and 52 are journaled on the pivotal frame 44 and thepivot points 45 and 46 for the frame 44 are in alignment with the centerline of the electric motor drive shaft 53 and spur gear 49 so that thepivotal frame 44 may move about the axes of the pivot points 45 and 46without disengaging the driving gear connection with the electric motor.The spring tension of a set of contact springs, generally shown at 60 asfunctioning through the contact spring pusher bar 61, normally tends topivot the pivotal frame 44 about the pivot points 45 and 46 in thedirection of the ticket stacking and receiving bin 18. However, when aportion of the paper strip 13 is engaged between the pressure roller 41and the continuously rotating friction sheet roller 42 before beingsevered by the operation of the cutter blade 26, the fn'ctional drag, asthe friction roller slips in its engagement with the underside portionof the paper strip 13, causes the frame 44 to pivot around the pvotpoints 45 and 46 in the direction toward the cutter blade 26. Detailedsectional views showing the pivotal operation of the friction roller 42and its supporting framework 44 are shown in Figures 6 and 7 of thedrawings. The movement of the 'friction drive supporting framework 44 asshown in Fig.

7 of the drawings when the ticket 15 has been cut from the paper Vstrip13, will allow spring contacts 62 to be closed to thereby indicate thepassage of a cut ticket. On the other hand, the movement of the frictionroller 42 and its supporting frame 44 to the position shown in Fig. 6 ofthe drawings as produced by the frictional drag with the uncut portionof the paper strip 13 will close contacts 63' and open contacts 62 tothereby indicate the presence of a paper strip to be cut and the uncutcondition of such paper strip. Again the exact circuit arrangements forutilizing the ejector sensing contacts 62 and 63 as controlled by thepivotal movement of the friction feed roller 42 do not form a part ofthe present invention and reference may be made to the aforementionedpatent application for a description of one such circuit in which theaforesaid ejector contacts are used.

' The cut ticket 15 is advanced by `the operation of the continuouslyrotating feed roller 42 onto the guide rails 16 and 17 of the cut ticketstacking hopper 18. In the bin space beneath the oppositely disposedguide rails 16 and. 17 there is positioned a depressable platform 70sup-v `.porteclnpon suitableccoilgsprings :71 and 72.11.1pion'.u whichmay-.be stacked. a.pluralityof.cut .tickets,\such ras are.-genrerallyshownat 73 in Fig; 3 of: the drawings. The Aweight of theaccumulatedrstacked .tickets v,73 onthe plattlorm 70 functionsto.graduallyhdepress-the .coil springs 71 and..72, ,asrshouldbereadily4understood sozastokeeputhe top level ofthe stacked ticketsat;approximately.the,same position regardless of..the.vamount .of .thestackedntickets. When it is. desired :to remove a .collection ofstackedtickets, Athe doorf74hingedrat75 may be.,.opened to, gainaccesstoythe interior .of .the bin containingsuchstacked tickets. Each `ticket4.15.as itiscut 4andreceived :on .theoppositely disposedguide rails .16`and 17is .forcibly-.movedonto the top ofthe stackiofcuttickets 73.in1helower .bin portion by meansof a stacking bar.19. Thestacking lbar isarraugedto engagethe cutticketlasresting on the Voppositely disposedguide rails 16 and 17 generally alongits longitudinalcenter line whenthe b ar 19 ismoved `down- Wa'rdly tothe .top A.of each cut ticket. `Acontinued downward movementof the stacker bar `19.exes thecutticket i.

and" 3 of the drawings,'the. out ticket 15 that has been forced betweenand beyond' the oppositely' disposedy guide r'ailsr16. and 17 will betrapped'beneath su'ch Vguide rails, thus 'assuring an orderly stackingof. the cut tickets within the stacking bin 18.

"Thestacking bar 19 is moved bya parallel link motion including theparallel farms 80 and" 81 interconnected 4by the vdownwardextendinglen-gthUSZ of the-'stacker bar .319 as-'pivotally connectedat"'83and'8`4. The' upperparallel 'arm f80` "is'-pivotally `connected'at"'"85 'to a pivot posti-86 secur'ed `to 'the sidef flange' "of thef":sheet-metal frameVv '20. The lowenparallel arm 81 is'secured to `theoperating shaft't37 `ofl ak rotary solenoid"magnet^`88' which, whenenergizedy-tends torotatethe shaft "87 in "the clockwise rdirection and'move 'theeparallel-arms 80 and81/down- Ward carryingthefstacker bar -19downward: therewith.

`With-reference more `particularly toFigures 3f 4 and `8`11 of`thedrawingsf'the `energizing circuitforthe stacking-solenoid motoriSS-isclosed when 'the-contact'springs 190" are closed. Contact Asprings/"'90are arranged 4toI be closedV `ionly `when'the- `cutter blade 26 -hasbeen moved upwardly'to sever alticket portion `15-and Lagain downwardlyyto theresting position as showrrinn Figure l0 of `the drawings. When"the -contact springs* 190 are closed `toL-'energize` thestackingsolenoid'motor`88, `the stacking parallel arms ySi) 'and "81 aremoved downwardly to atl the samedimemove the ^connectingarms 91andi92-tofthe left of the drawings as"seen-'by"Figs. 8-11 land pivotthe`latch93 about the pivot'point to 'open the contact springs 90 as morespeciically shown by Figure V11 of the drawings. =`With 'the' `contactsprings 90 "thereby opened, 'the "stacking 'solenoid V"8S isagaindeenergized andthestacking bar '19 again `returnsto"its1upperposition'asshown in`-Figures l` and 3 of" thedrawings. As`the stacking bar 19 and parallel arms S0 and"81 return 'tothe upperposition; the connecting 1inks"91fand 92 are again moved 'to the`position shown by Figure 8A of the""drawings but the pivotalv movementiofthelatchl 93 is preventedduetoengagement of the latch edge v94 withthe; contact springsvQ. So long as `the interlockinglatching"lin'ks-91`,"9`2 and-93 remain as shownl in-thef position f'ofy'Figure 8 of the drawings, itis not possible to closeithe Contactsprings @dior again energizing the stacking-solenoid motorSS. Assoon asthe cutter'magnet coil' 37 is energized,l however, to tmove lthe yokecross-member 33 `andfthe cutterl blade-26' upward to the cuttingpositionas ."showntin Figures 3 andS :of the drawings, the link :member 95 uponl.whichithe latchmemberdsxpivoted 1at96l-will :be imoved t upward tordisengage the edge -"94. of .the latch.. rnemberwiththe contact.springs- 90.,soV asl to ,enabler-the latch :member 93 'to `pivotabout.the .pivotpoint .96..intresponseto theqtensionof they coilzspringA 97.y. Thereafter, when ...theqcutter .magnet .fis .deenergized to; again'allowthe .cutter blade. 26. toy return; fromsthefcutting posi- .tion.tot the. lower 1 resting position, the i. latch vmember.v 93 willengage.,the contactrsprings 90 to close such springs as shownin Figure1,0,.of the, drawings,..thereby .again completing a circuitfonenergiziug. thestackingfsolenoid .motor .88 4,andlthe entiresequence. of. operations l.islepeated. Itishould bev apparentthat the-latchvfand -link mechanism vincludingA the` latch element 93 andthelink elements 91, 92 and9;5, together with the. set of ,contact springs9 0, provides for. the controlof the ,operation-of the stacking .bar l19to be'in timed relation to the feeding :of a cut ticket ontofthe,oppositely disposedguide railsA 16 and 17 and that such operation ofthe stacking solenoid motor 88 can be obtained-.once only` for eachmovement of the cutter blade to the restingposition from acuttingpositionso that in 'eiectlthe entire operation f ticket cuttingandisackingisproduced ,byithe single electric signalfor operating thecutter magnet 35.

'Although the invention has been specifically described in connectionwith4 its use for .the feeding, cutting, and stacking of paper ticketsas produced from a'strip of paper fed through. an `electrictypewritinggmachine, it should be understood that such material handlingmechanism .may bel usediwith'other types `of recording andreproducing"machinery wherein flexible striprnaterial is employed asthe"recordin'g"medium. lPor example, the Vmaterial handling mechanismofrthe invention may-be lused to cut Aand stack records on'flexiblematerial as` fed Vthrough either af paper punch oran electricallycontrolled adding machine, or'the like.

` Various 'modificationstmay be made within the spirit lof' the-inven'tionandthe `scope ofthe appended claims.

*What-is claimed is:

l. `lvlaterial handling "mechanism comprising acontinuouslength vofmaterial, means for imparting `move- "ment to said length of material,cutting means having a normal position in proximity to said materialand'effective "when operated for-severing a portion of said-materialafter said material` is advanced `and then returning to its normalposition,-means for receiving said severed portion and including apairof oppositely disposed elements in a position to receive and supporty asevered portion, means for advancing asevered yportioninto supportingrelation with said elements, and means coupled to'said cuttingmeans forforcing said said portion between and beyondsaid elements yonlyinresponse to said cutting Ameans yreturning to its normal position aftera completed operationthereof.

2.1Material handling yrnechanisitn comprising, means for advancing acontinuous length of material, vcutting means having a ynormal lpositionirl-'proximity to said material andeiective when operated for severing aportion of said material after said material is advanced andV thenreturning to its normal position, means forreeeiving said severedportion and including apair of oppositely disposed elements in aposition'to receiveand support a severed portion, means loperative inresponse to the severing of aiportion for advancingV the severed portioninto supporting relation'with said elements, and ymeans coupled to saidcutting-means operative .in timed relation to the severing of a portionfor lforcingthe severed portion after ithas 'been advanced intosupporting relation with said elements to a position :between and beyondsaid elements only `in response tosaid lcutting means returning to itsnormal position after a completed operation thereof.

3. Material handling `mechanism comprising, a guideway, means toadvance-acontinuous length of flexible .material through said guideway,cutting vmeans having a normal positionin; proximity to `said guidewayveffective when operated for .severing a portion of4 said .material.after-said material is advanced and thenreturning to` itsnormalvposition, a stacking bin `having .oppositely-.dis-

posed end and side walls, said bin being positioned with its side wallsin alignment with said guideway and an opening in one of said end wallsadjacent the end of said 4guideway, a pair of oppositely disposedelements fastened to said side walls in a position to receive andsupport a severed portion, means for advancing a severed portion fromsaid guideway through said opening onto said elements, and stackingmeans coupled to said cutting means and positioned above said elementsand movable downward between said elements for engaging the severedportion to ex and force said portion downward between said elements andthereby trap said portion beneath said elements only in response to saidcutting means returning to its normal position after a completedoperation thereo 4. Material handling mechanism comprising, a guideway,means to advance a continuous length of exible material through saidguideway, cutting means having a normal position in proximity to saidguideway effective when operated for severing a portion of said materialafter said material is advanced and then returning to its normalposition, a stacking bin having -op positely disposed end and sidewalls, said bin being positioned with its side walls in alignment withsaid guideway and an opening in one of said end walls adjacent the endof said guideway, a pair of oppositely disposed elements fastened tosaid side walls in a position to receive and support a severed portion,means operative in response to the severing of a portion for advancing asevered portion from said guideway through said opening onto saidelements, and stacking means coupled to said cutting means andpositioned above said elements and movable downward between saidelements in timed relation to the severing of a portion for engaging thesevered portion after it has been advanced to be supported on saidelements only in response to said cutting means returning to its normalposition after a completed operation thereof, said stacking meansengaging a severed portion at a point intermediate said elements to exand force said portion downward between said elements and thereby trapsaid portion beneath said elements.

5. Material handling mechanism comprising, rst means for advancing acontinuous length of material, cutting means for severing a portion ofsaid material after said material is advanced by said first means, meansfor receiving said severed portion, a continuously rotating drive wheelengaging said material as it is advanced beyond said cutting means andoperable to advance a severed portion into said receiving means, saiddrive wheel tending to advance said material at a lgreater rate of speedthan the speed of advancing of said material by said rst means, andmeans for sensing a severed portion including means rotatably supportingsaid drive wheel on a pivotally mounted journal to be moved in onedirection due to the reaction of the frictional engagement of the drivewheel with said material while said material is uncut and being moved inan opposite direction when the portion of said material is cut and freeto be advanced by said drive wheel and indicating means responsive tomovement of said journal in the opposite direction to thereby indicatethe severing of a portion of the material.

6. Material handling mechanism comprising, lirst means for advancing acontinuous length of material, cutting means having a normal position inproximity to said material and effective when operated for severing aportion of said material after said material is advanced by said rstmeans and then returning to its normal position, means for receivingsaid severed portion and including a pair of oppositely disposedelements in a position to receive and support a severed portion, acontinuously rotating drive wheel engaging said material as it isadvanced beyond said cutting means and operable to advance a severedportion into supporting relation with said elements, said drive wheeltending to advance said material at a greater rate of speed than thespeed of advancing of said material by said first means, means forsensing a severed portion including means rotatably supporting saiddrive wheel on a pivotally mounted journal to be moved in one directiondue to the reaction of the frictional engagment of the drive wheel withsaid material while said material is uncut and being moved in anopposite direction when the portion of said material is cut and free tobe advanced by said drive wheel and indicating means responsive tomovement of said journal in the opposite direction to thereby indicatethe severing of a portion of the material, and means coupled to saidcutting means for forcing said portion between and beyond said elementsonly in response to said cutting means being returned to its normalposition after a completed operation thereof.

7. Material handling mechanism comprising, a guideway, rst means toadvance a continuous length of exible material through said guideway,cutting means having a normal position in proximity to said guideway andeffective when operated for severing a portion of said material aftersaid material is advanced and then returning to its normal position, astacking bin having oppositely disposed end and side walls, said binbeing positioned with its side walls in alignment with said guideway andan opening in one of said walls adjacent the end of said guideway, apair of oppositely disposed elements fastened to said side walls in aposition to receive and support a severed portion, a continuouslyrotating drive wheel engaging said material as it is advanced beyondsaid cutting means and operable to advance a severed portion from saidguideway into supporting relation with said elements, said drive wheeltending to advance said material at a greater rate of speed than thespeed of advancing of said material by said first means, means forsensing a severed portion including means rotatably supporting saiddrive wheel on a pivotally mounted journal to be moved in one directiondue to the reaction of the frictional engagement of the drive wheel withsaid material while said material is uncut and being moved in anopposite direction when the portion of said material is cut and free tobe advanced by said drive wheel and indicating means responsive tomovement of said journal in the opposite direction to thereby indicatethe severing of a portion of the material, and means coupled to saidcutting means and operative in timed relation to the severing of aportion for forcing the severed portion after it has been advanced intosupporting relation with said elements to a position between and beyondsaid elements only in response to said cutting means returning to itsnormal position after a completed operation thereof.

8. Material handling mechanism comprising, a guideway, tirst means toadvance a continuous length of flexible material through said guideway,cutting means in proximity to said guideway and effective when operatedfor severing a portion of said material after said material is advancedand then returning to its normal position, a stacking bin havingoppositely disposed end and side walls, said bin being positioned withits side walls in alignment with said guideway and an opening in one ofsaid end walls adjacent the end of said guideway, a pair of oppositelydisposed elements fastened to said side walls in a position to receiveand support a severed portion, a continuously rotating drive wheelengaging said material as it is advanced beyond said cutting means andoperable to advance a severed portion from said guideway into supportingrelation with said elements, said drive wheel tending to advance saidmaterial at a greater rate of speed than the speed of advancing of saidmaterial by said rst means, means for sensing a severed portionincluding means rotatably supporting said drive wheel on a pivotallymounted journal to be moved in one direction destinos r9 4,duettothewreaotienrA off-thexfrictional engagement -of fthe drive wheel.'-withAr-:sade material- `while said .material Ais ,uncutiandubeingemoved. :in fan-Opposite directionl when ithe portionofssaidematerial is cut=and free ,-tofbefadivanced by saddrive r-whee1-and indicating means ,responnsive, tor` movement offsaidl journal tinrtheI opposite. direction-tto: thereby; indicate the.` severing-.of a:portionof the material, Zand zstackllgvmeansoupled .to I-said cuttingmeans .fand positioned above "said elements 'andmovabledownwardbetweenmaid-elementsl initimed relation to -the -'severingrofvapontion.foriengaging the severed portion lfatter: ithas fbeen.advancedto be supported ousaid `ele- 'mentsfonly'n response ,to saidcutting meansk returning to `itsnormal:position after acompletedoperationthereof, .saidlstackingtmeansferrgaging a`severedfportion -at a point .intenmediate-saidfelements:to ex :andforcesaid portion `downwardbetweensaid'elements .and-thereby trap saidportion vbeneath-said elements.

9. Material handling mechanism comprising, first meansfor.-advanci-ng.iiaz .continuous length/ofy material, cutting meanshaving a normalnposition in proximity to .saidmaterial"aiidiiectiveftwhen'operatedfor severing a .portionoisaidmaterial Yaftersaid material is advanced by said irstfuneans andthenreturning tot` its normalposiation, means :for ,receivingsaid severed.portion and .in-

.cllidingf,a.-pair of .,oppositelydisposedl elementsain a pofsitiontoi.' receive ,and .support aseveredtportiompa conitinuou'slyzrotating...drive wheel .engaging-said material :as it is advanced beyond saidcutting means and operable to advance a severed portion into supportingrelation with said elements, said drive Wheel tending to advance saidmaterial at a greater rate of speed than the speed of advancing of saidmaterial by said first means, and means coupled to said cutting meansand operated in timed relation to the operation of said cutting meansfor forcing said portion between and beyond said elements only inresponse to said cutting means returning to its normal position after acompleted operation thereof.

l0. Material handling mechanism comprising, a guideway, rst means toadvance a continuous length of iexible material through said guideway,cutting means having a normal position in proximity to said guideway andeilective when operated for severing a portion of said material as saidmaterial is advanced and then returning to its normal position, astacking bin having oppositely disposed end and side walls, said binbeing positioned with its side walls in alignment with said guideway andan opening in one of said end walls adjacent the end of said guideway, apair of oppositely disposed elements fastened to said side walls in aposition to receive and support a severed portion, a continuouslyrotating drive wheel engaging said material as it is -advanced beyondsaid cutting means and operable to advance a severed portion from saidguideway into supporting relation with said elements, said drive Wheeltending to advance said material at a greater rate of speed than thespeed of advancing of said material by said rst means, and stackingmeans coupled to said cutting means and positioned above said elementsand movable downward between said elements in timed relation to thesevering of a portion for engaging the severed portion after it has beenadvanced to be supported on said elements only in response to saidcutting means returning to its normal position after a completedoperation thereof, said stacking means engaging a severed portion -at apoint intermediate said elements to ilex and force said portion downwardbetween said elements and thereby trap said portion beneath saidelements.

ll. Material handling mechanism comprising, first means for advancing acontinuous length of material, a cutter movable from a resting positiontowards said material to a cutting position for engaging and severing aportion of said material after said material is advanced by said rstmeans, means to momentarily move said cutter to and from said materialand thereby sever a portion of'saidimaterialgtmieansoraieceivingv:saids.s exzented .portion-tand includingalpe-ir.;tofipppositely:disposediele- :ments ina position rto.receiveand support asevered portion, l a continuously rotating..drive-wheelengaging said material as it is advanced beyond saidcutitingmeanstandoperable-.toadvance,v a severed fprtion into .supporting relation with`said,elements;:said l.drivefvvheel 'tendingffto Aadvance said material:ata greater rateY ofspeed'. thans-the `speediofv advancing/,of saidmaterial byy-saideiirst means, and *mea-ns coupled .sto said f cutterandgopera-ted `only-.in response to the return-.of sadccuttertothefrestingposition from the cutting position. for ,forcing said:portion-,between and beyond `saidelements 12. Materialhandling-mechanism .comprising,-a yguideway,- rst means to yadvancea-,continuous 'lengthqofiexible material through .said guideway-.fa-cuttervfmovablet from a resting position towards said materialt-infsaidgguideway to arcutting position for engaging -andfseveringaiportgion ofsaid material atten-said.- material is advanced, trmeanszto momentarily2move .-fsaid y, cutter- Ito fand c from said material and thereby severa portion of saidefmateriaha'stacking binhaving oppositelyzdisposed. endPand sidevwallsy'said bin :being positioned with :itsfside' wallsinfalignment with said -.guideway.landan openingin oneof: sa-idend-wallsadjac'entfthe tend of said-guideway, a .pair of oppositelydisposedelements fastened tofsaidfsidef-walls: in a position toreceive-.ai;rd;` support. aseveredfgport-ion, aA continuously .rotatingdrive :wheel .engaging said: material. ,as `it; is :iadvanced beyondsaid cutting means and operable to advance a severed portion from saidguideway into supporting relation with said elements, and stacking meanscoupled to said cutter and positioned above said elements and movabledownward between said elements only in response to the return of saidcutter to the resting position from the cutting position for engagingthe severed portion after it has been advanced to be supported on saidelements, said stacking means engaging a severed portion at a pointintermediate said elements to flex and force said portion downwardbetween said elements and thereby trap said portion beneath saidelements.

13. Material handling mechanism comprising, a guideway, rst means toadvance a continuous length of flexible material through said guideway,a cutter movable from a resting position towards said material in saidguideway to a cutting position for engaging and severing a portion ofsaid material after said material is advanced, means to momentarily movesaid cutter to and from said material and thereby sever a portion ofsaid material, a stacl ing bin having oppositely disposed end and sidewalls, said bin being positioned with its side walls in alignment withsaid guideway and an opening in one of said end walls adjacent the endof said guideway, a pair of oppositely disposed elements fastened tosaid side walls in a position to receive and support a severed portion,a continuously rotating drive wheel engaging said material as it isadvanced beyond said cutting means and operable to advance a severedportion from said guideway into supporting relation with said elements,saidy drive wheel tending to advance said material at a greater rate ofspeed than the speed of advancing of said material by said first means,means for sensing a severed portion including means rotatably supportingsaid drive wheel on a pivotally mounted journal to be moved in onedirection due to the reaction of the frictional engagement of the drivewheel with said material while said material is uncut and being moved inan opposite direction when the portion of said material is cut and freeto be advanced by said drive wheel and indicating means responsive tomovement of said journal in the opposite direction to thereby indicatethe severing of a portion of the material, and stacking means coupled tosaid cutter and positioned above said elements and movable downwardbetween said elements only in response to the return of said cutter tothe resting position from the cutting position for engaging the severedportion after it has been advanced to be supported on said elements,said stacking means engaging a severed portion at a point intermediatesaid elements to flex and force said portion downward between saidelements and thereby trap said portion beneath said elements.

14. Material handling mechanismy comprising, first means for advancing acontinuous length of material, a cutter movable from a resting positiontowards said material to a cutting position engaging said material forsevering a portion of said material after said material is advanced bysaid first means, means to momentarily move said cutter to and from saidmaterial and thereby sever a portion of said material, means forreceiving said severed portion and including a pair of oppositelydisposed elements in a position to receive and support a severedportion, means to advance a severed portion into supporting relationwith said elements, and means coupled to said cutter and operated onlyin response to the return of said cutter to the resting position fromthe cutting position for forcing said portion between and beyond saidelements.

15. Material handling mechanism comprising, a guideway, first means toadvance a continuous length of exible material through said guideway, acutter movable from a resting position towards said material in saidguideway to a cutting position for engaging and severing a portion ofsaid material after said material is advanced, means to momentarily movesaid cutter to and from said material and thereby sever a portion ofsaid material, a stacking bin having oppositely disposed end and sideWalls, said bin being positioned with its side walls in alignment withsaid guideway and an opening in one of said end walls adjacent the endof said guideway, a pair of oppositely disposed elements fastened tosaid side walls in a position to receive and support a severed portion,means to advance a severed portion from said guideway into supportingrelation with said elements, and stacking means coupled to said cutterand positioned above said elements and movable downward between saidelements only in response to the return of said cutter to the restingposition from the cutting position for engaging the severed portionafter it has been advanced to be supported on said elements, saidstacking means engaging a severed portion at a point intermediate saidelements to flex and force said portion downward between said ele mentsand thereby trap said portion beneath said elements.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,981,229 Gillet Nov. 20, 1934 2,072,532 Roedels Mar. 2, 1937 2,173,831Eitzen Sept. 26, 1939 2,632,545 Schubert Mar. 24, 1953 2,644,685vRockwell July 7, 1953 2.670.954 Bach Mar. 2, 1954

